Combination-lock bank.



PATBETBD PEB. 18, 1908. E. R. WALKER.

IP. E f /l warren siem@ EUGENE it. WALKER, Ol" CHICAGO, LLINOIS.

COMBINATION-LOCK BAN Specification ot' Letters Patent.

atented Feb. 18, 1908.

Application led May 20. 1907. Serial No. 374.597.

To all who/m it may concern:

Beit known that l, EUGENE R. WALKER, a citizen of the ,United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ot' lllinois, haveinvented certain new and useful lmp-rovenients in Combination-LockBanks, of which the following is a sp eci'lication.

This invention relates to coin banks, and more particularly to that kindor class ol banks which are )rovided with a closure or cover locked totlhe body of the bank and capable of being withdrawn so as to open thebank only when the latter has been llillcd.

The invention further relates to a bank of this character wherein thecover or closure contains or includes a combination lock; andthevleading novel feature of the invention resides in a separable ortwopart combination lock mechanism which can be operated to open thebank only when. the separable arts of the lock mechanism have beenbrought together by the insertion of the last coin which the bank iscapable of holding, so

es to place the locking mechanism in a condition in which thecombination can be operated to open the bank.

The invention is intended principally lor use in connection with smallpocket banks adapted to hold small coins, such as pennies, nickels,dimes, quarters and the like; butthe principle of the invention 'isapplicable to any ty e of savings bank.

he invention will be readily understood when considered in connectionwith the' accompanying drawing `illustrating a preferred mechanicalembodiment thereof, in

which,

Figure l is a pers ectivc elevational view of the complete ban i. Fig. 2is an enlarged' horizontal sectional view through the lock mechanism onthe line 2 2 of .F1 I).

is an enlarged vertical sectional view through Fig. 4 is a similarvertical sectional view in lane at right angles to that of Fig. 3, onthe ine 4 4 of Fig. Fig. 5 is a group view showing in perspective theseries ol alternating ring tumblers and spacers or washers constitutingelements ol' the combination lock. Fig. 6 is aperspectiveview ol' thetumrig. :s I

Y pose hereinafter described. the lock mechanism on the line ot ll 1g.2.

its upper end is outwardly ilared or tapered as shown at 7, therebyforming an upper portion S ol somewhat enlarged diameter, and open atits upper end. lust below the tapered or lla-red portion 7 the body ofthe bank is provided with a horizontal slot 9 adapted for the insertionof the coins. The cylindrical body S ol' the bank may be lurtherprovided with a series of uniformly spaced holes 10 which enable theowner or user ol the bank to observe the height of the coins depositedtherein Aat any given time, and, in association with ninnerals placedopposite the same, as indicated, form a scale to indicate the value oithe deposited coins according to the height ol' the latter in the bank:the bank herein illustrating having a capacitv ol' fifty dimes or livedollars.

Rete img now 'more' particularly t the closure tor the upper end kol:the bank, and the combination lock mechanismincorporated therein, l1 and'12 designate, respectively, two series olI vertically spaced inwardlyprojecting lugs diametrically opposite each other on the inner wall ol'the upper enlarged portion il el' the bank body, the locking lugs ol theseries 11 being somewhat wider than those of the series 12, as shown inthe sectional view, Fig. 2. Slidingly fit# ting the end portion 8 of thecylinder is a cylindrical shell 13 shown indetail in Fig. 5, thecylindrical wall ol' said shell having on its lower end an internalhorizontal 'llange 14, and Kthe cylindrical wall and iiange beingprovided with diainetrieally opposed vertical slots 15 and 16, whichslide over the locking lugs 11 and 12, respectively, of the outercasing. The cylindrical wall or the shell 13 is further provided. with apair ol' oppositely disposed narrower slots 17 disposed ninety degreesfrom the slots l5 and 16, for the pur- This shell 13 is loaded withalternatel'T arranged ring tuinblersnnd washers, as follows.

In the bottom ot' the shell, resting on the flange 14 thereof, is placeda ring tumbler 18 having dia-inetrically opposite points in its outerperiphery notches 19 and 20 adapted to be brought into registration withthe locking lugs 11 and 12 w-.ien the combination lock manipulated toopen position. The ring tumbler 1S is further provided on its innerperiphery witll a narrow inwardly projecting .lug or tooth 21. Above andresting on the ring tumbler 1S is a ring washer 22, which has a smoothinternal periphery Of :peri heral nothes 3 and 32,

evaeoe equal diameter to the internal periphery ot l held within thetuinblers. The tia-nge 44.0? the ring tumbler 1S, and is provided atdiainetrically opposite points on its outer peri hery with projectinglugs 23, the tips of W ich slidingly engage the slots 17. ot the shellor 13, as best shown in Fig. L1, whereby said washer is prevented fromturning relatively to the cage. Above and. upon the washer rests anothertumbler la pro vided with o'ppositely disposed noto es 25 and 26corresponding to the notches 11i) l 20 of the tumbler 1S, and having onits in ner periphery an inwardly projecting lug` 27 of greater angularextent than the lug 21. Above the tumbler' 24 rests another ring Washer2S having` radially projecting lugs 29 corres ending in all respects tothe washer 22 an its lugs 23, and above this washer is located a thirdring tumbler BO having outer corresponding to tne similar notches of thetuinblers 1S and 24, and having on its inner periphery a lug V33occupying approximately three-tourths of the internal periphery the tumber. Aboye the tumbler 30 the upper open end of the cage 13 is closed bya cap or cover 34 having a depending llange that rests upon the toptumbler, `and further having an annular marginal undercut indicated at36 adapted to snugly tit the upper ends ot the cage and of itscontainingr wall ot the bank body 8, as clearly showiiin Figs. 3 and 4.The cap 34 has a central circular aperture 37 through which passes thecircular portion 38 ot the stem or spindle ot an external cap 39 that isfast with said spindle and has an annular depending marginal lla-nge 40tele-' scoping over the upper end S ol the cylinder, said flange 40being graduated, as shown in Fig, 1, after the man ner common incombination locks of this type, the graduated scale shown being adaptedto cooperate with a fixed line or other 'mark 4You the cylinder.

42 designates the cylindrical body-member of the tumbler-actuating keywhich is inserted through the lower end oi the shell or cage 13 andseries ol" ring tumblers and washers, embracing the central spindle 3S,and is provided With a radially projecting rib 43 adapted, as the key isturned in the manner hereinafter described, to strilie the ends olEth\ev several lugs 21, 27 and Iii; ol' the respective tumblers, andthereby successively turn said tuinblers to positions iii which theirrespective peripheral notches ou the saine sides rogister with eachother and with the loeiiing lugs` ll and l2 of the faisingf The lrey 42is further provided on its lower end with a radially projecting llanger-tl that rests against the lower side ol the. llangc lt ot the shelllil,

soon as the lugs 50 and 4) come into contact,

and is counlersuiik on its lower tai-e, as Shown at 45, to receive asmall washer All'and a cotterpin 1.7 passing through a hole iii thelower reduced and squared portion ih' ol the l l l l i l l l l the lreyis further provided with a depending lug in that cooperates, when thebank is Ailled with coins; with a corresponding lug 5() formed on theupper tace ot a clutch-member :31 that slidahly mounted by means of acentral square aperture on the squared portion 455 of the spindle, beingconfined thereon by a screw .32 counter-sunk in the lower oi theclutch-member and threaded onto the lower end ol.E the .portion 43'01"'thc' spindle. T he clutch-member 51 is normallyniaintained separatedtroni the cooperating elutchanem ber represented by the ilange Ltrl andluv' e9 by a coiled compression spring 53 that surrounds the squaredportion 48 of the spindle, and abuis at its endsagainst the washer 46and the upper face ot the clutch-member 51, ref spectivoly. it will be.observed that the lower element of the lock mechanism represented 'oythe member' 5l.. is thus normally separate and disconnected troni thesiiperposed'parts oiihe ieelr mechanism and'b oi an exteriiai diametersubstantially equal 4to the internal diameter ot the main cylinder tlotthe baul; body, normally closes the latter directly above thecoii'i-adinitting -slot t?, which prevents the insert-ion of awire orother device lor improper manipulation of the turn blers ortunioler-actuating lrey. l

ln the use, oi" the device, the coins are inserted edgewise through theslot Si, each coin as it is inserted forcing upwardly the movable member5l against the spring 53 sulticiently to permit the insertion of a coin,whereupon the coin drops to the bottoni ot' the cylinder, or onto othercoins previously depositedA So long as the bank remains incoinpletelyfilled, any turning of thel cap 3) in either direction will merely idlyrotate the lock nieniber 5l without turning or otherwise atl'eeting thetuniblers, so that the locking lugs 11 and 12, through engagement withthe. uniiotched )oi-tions ot thc peripheries of the severa?. tuni-.ilers, prevent the withdrawal ot the vend ciosure ot' the baiilg thus.`making it impossible t o extract the coins W'hen, however, the bant: isiilled vwith the predetermined number coins represented by its capacity,the last coin inserted, being pushed in between 'the last preceding coindeposited and the under side of the clutch-member 51 which, it will beobserved, is convex or inclined and directly opposite the slot i),forces upwardly the clutch-ineniber'5l against the spi'iiig, niitil thelug 50 ca'i'ricd thereby lies in. thesanie horizontal plane withthe'dependiug lug 4t) ot thc tuinliler-actuatingkey 42. Accordinglyr theturning of the. cap 39, which is rigid wit i the spindle 2%, A1S,transmits to the kcyyl-, as

a turning movement; and the turning of the lrey lf2 through thepredetermined distance in' ono direction, according to the particularSpindle, whereby said hey is supported and l ctmiliiiiation to which.the lock is sei, bringe stacca one oi the tumblers to a position inwhich its notches register with the locking lugsA ll and 12. Thesubsequent turning movement ot the cap :B9 inthe opposite direction, andto the predetermined extent required by the combination, bringsa secondtumbler with its notches into c-orreslionding Aregistration with thelocking lugs ll and l2. A final turning ot the cap 3l) in tliereversedirection, and to the predetermined extent required by the combination,brings the third tumbler into similar registration withthe correspondinglugs, whereupon the cap with the undcrlying parts of the lockinginechanism can be removed bodily from theend ot the cylinder, and b yinverting the latter' the coins may be removed. It will be observed thatthe tumblers are provided on their lower sides with shallow ilanges thattit into the underlying 'flange 14 of the cage and the ring washers,thereby accurately centering the tumblers relatively to the cage andwashers; the washers being themselves accurately centered relatively tothe shell through the engagement of their radial lugs with the slots 17ot' the shell.

The key 42 is centered in a similar manner through engagement with theunder side of the llange 14. Y

ltwill thus be seen th at my invention presents a combination lock forthe closure ot the bank that includes two normally separated parts thatrequire to be brought together 'before the combination can be worked torelease the lock and open the bank. So tar as l am aware my invention isbroadly new in these features. Should it be reqniredrto open the bankbefore it is t'illed, this may be accomplished by inserting the blade ota pen knife or similar tool through the slot t) and pushing the clutch51 up into operative relation to the key 42 and then turning the cap 3)through the movements required by the (,'ombination` The tumblers canobviously be set to operate any one ot a large variety of combinationmovcn'icnts, as is well understood in locks oi this character.

l`hc device as shown and described can be readily carried about in thepocket ot 4the owner' or user, occupies but small space, and constitutesa convenience, as well as atl'oi'ding an incentive to the saving andaccumnla tion olz small coins. lt will be obvious to those skilled inthe art that the mechanism shown and described mightbe considerablyvaried with respect to details without departing 'from thospirit orsacrificing any oli' the advantages ol' the invention.

l claim:

l. in a combination-lock bank, the combinationyitll a casing' having anopen end and a slot ttlnniinscrtion ot coins, and further providedwit.h\one\or more locking lugs, ot a Aclosure i'or said rinsingincluding a normally inoperative combination lock mechanism adapted tointerlock with .said

[ lugs, said mechanism being rendered operative to unlock 'the closurewhen the bank is 'filled with coins, substantially as described.

. 2. ln a combination-lock bank, the combination with a casing having anopen end and a slot tor the insertion ot coin-s, and 'further providedwith one or more locking l lugs, ot a closure tor said casing,saidclosure carrying. a coml'iination-lock mechanism adapted tointerlock with said lugs, coperating parts whereof are norn'iallyseparateil renderingthe mechanism inoperative, said parts being broughttogether to render the lock operative by the last coin insert-ed' tocomplete the filling ot' the bank, substantially as described.

3. In a combination-lock bank, the combination with cylindrical casingopen at one end and transversely slotted tor the insertion oi'I coins,ot internal locking lugs carried by said casing, and a rotatable closurecarrying a normally inoperative combination lock mechanism adapted tointerlock with said lugs and having normally separated cooperatingparts, said lock mechanism being rendered operative upon the connec#tion of' said normally separated parts by the insertion ot the last coinintroduced to complete the tilting ot the casing, substantially asdescribed.

L in a combination-lock bank, the combination with a cylindrical casingopen at one engl and transversely slotted for the insertion of coins, otinternal locking lugs carried by said casing, a rotatable, closure torthe open end of' said casing, a series of vring tun'iblers carried, bysirid closure adapted to interlockingly engage said lugs, a rotatablekey adapted to actuate said tumblers, a spindle carried by and rotatablewith said closure, and normally separated clutch devices carried by saidspindle and key, respectively, said clutch devices being forced intocooperative relation whereby to turn said ke f 'trom the turning of'said closur by the last coin introduced to complete the tilling ot' thecasing, substantially as dcscribed. I

5. ln a combinationllock bank, the cornbination with a cylindricalcasing open at one end, and transversely slotted below said open end torthcl insertion oi'l coins, ot internal locking lugs on the inner wallot' said casing above said transverse slot, a rotatable closure tumblerscarried by said closure adapted to bored rotatable key extended throughand adapted to actnate said tumblers, a spindle tast with said closureand. extending loosely through said kcy, and normally separated clutchdevices carried by said spindle and key, respectively, said clutchdevices being forced into cooperativo relation whereby to turn saidkeyi`r nn the turning'oi' said closure tor the open end of' said casing,a series ot ring interlockingly engage said lugs, an axially rotatablekey extended through and adapted i end of said (.:zisingba` series ofring tumblers b the last com introduced to complete the filling Of thecasing, substantially as described. Y

6. In'a combination-look bank, the cornbinationwitlra cylindrical casingOpen at i one end and transversely slotted below said l Open end for theinsertion Ot coins7 of ex-' ternal locking lugs onl the inner Wall ofsaid easing above said transverse slot, a` rotatable externallygraduated closure 'for the Open carried by said closure adapted tointerlockingly engage saidlugs, an axially bored to aetuate saidtiiinblers, aspindle fast with I seid closure and extending looselythrough said key, a clutch member On the loWer end of said key, acooperating clutch member rotatable with and slidavble longitudinally ofthe lower portion of said spindle7 said lastnamed clutch member having aConvex lower surface lying Opposite the slot of the easing, and n.spring between and normally Se arating said Clutch members, substantiely as described. v

EUGENE R. WALKER.

Witnesses SAMUEL N. POND, FREDERICK C. GOODWIN.

